Armstrong’s back against the wall in doping case

Despite the plea of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), Lance Armstrong now appears to have his back against the wall. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said on Tuesday that the Armstrong case should proceed in the hands of the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).

The USADA has charged Armstrong with possession, trafficking and administering banned drugs and methods.

Today, a federal court judge will decide if the USADA’s case violates Armstrong’s rights and if the USADA has jurisdiction. On August 6, the UCI said the US agency should not handle the case, but that it should go directly to the sports high court, CAS.

WADA’s director general, David Howman said on Tuesday, “There is no provision within the [anti-doping] Code that allows the UCI to interfere with the USADA case based on the UCI’s own rules.”

The USADA filed a brief on Wednesday with the same federal court in Austin, Texas, where Armstrong argued it lacked jurisdiction. Today, the court will decide what USADA is able to do next. If it allows the agency to move ahead, Armstrong will have to accept penalties or to face arbitration.

Schwazer Olympic doping case draws in Ferrari

Italian race walking champion Alex Schwazer admitted on Wednesday to EPO use and working with trainer Michele Ferrari. A positive test for the drug on July 30 saw him pulled from the London Olympics on Monday.

Ferrari has been banned from working with athletes in Italy since 2002. Investigators revealed in June that Filippo Pozzato (Farnese Vini) trained under Ferrari from 2005 to 2010. He faces a hearing on September 11 and a possible one-year ban.

Ferrari achieved greatest notoriety as Lance Armstrong’s trainer. USADA banned Ferrari for life in July as part of its investigation into Armstrong. The Schwazer case, however, shows that he is attempting to continue his practice under the radar.

Schleck doping case goes to disciplinary committee

Fränk Schleck’s doping case will head to Luxembourg’s anti-doping disciplinary committee, according national newspaper Le Quotidien. The committee will rule based on his failed dope test in the Tour de France on July 14.

Schleck tested positive for diuretic Xipamide in a random doping control following the stage to Cap d’Agde. The UCI released the test result on the second rest day in Pau. His RadioShack-Nissan team sent Schleck home and continued on, winning the team classification from Sky.

The committee may shelf the case or issue a suspension. Schleck, third in the 2011 Tour, claims he was poisoned.

Transfers

Lars Petter Nordhaug announced he will leave Sky after signing a two-year contract to ride for team Rabobank in 2013 and 2014.

“Sky is a great team, I was satisfied there, but I am ready to develop myself further,” he said in a press release. “There were more teams interested in me. But Rabobank is a strong team with good riders, I really want to ride with them.”

Sky’s Italian, Davide Appollonio will ride for team AG2R. Samuel Dumoulin (Cofidis) and Carlos Betancur (Acqua & Sapone) will also join the French team.

As I said, I want to see this put to bed…but to state that Armstrong is innocent as he has not tested positive???? Then why would America waste its time bringing its own hero to court If they did not believe there was a case to answer?

Riis. Ullrich, Basso, Millar etc etc etc never tested positive, but were proven to be cheats and stripped of victories. The same should apply to Armstrong. How can he be a hero if he cheated?? Heros dont cheat in my book.

If he is proven to be innocent then he will be a hero, not before.

Geoff Powell

The US justice system is flawed as is the case against Armstrong because it is based entirely on evidence from convicted dopers who wish to see their sentences reduced and those who are envious of Armstong’s legendary status. Over all the years that Armstrong has ridden he has been rigorously and regularly tested and never failed one. He has proven his innocence by continuing to pass the tests.

Mike

I would love to see this whole sorry episode put to bed.

There has been so much anecdotal evidence against Armstrong I am surprised he has not pushed to get it to court to prove his innocence.

If he is proven guilty, he should be stripped of his victories and vilified as a cheat.

If he is proven innocent he can then take his place in the history books as the greatest Tour rider of all time.

Ken Evans

The Armstrong case is so high profile it should be tried by WADA or CAS,
hopefully in front of TV cameras, with a live internet feed.

Short of locking Ferrari in prison,
there doesn’t seem to be an effective way to stop him doping people.

Paul

If the federal court judge decides that the USADA’s case violates Armstrong’s rights and the USADA does not have jurisdiction then all USA sporting associations should be prevented from competing in International sporting competitions. There should not be one rule for the rest of the worlds athletes and another one for the USA . Its a shame for the USA athletes if this happens but the USA needs to learn that despite its arrogance in other areas at least in International sport it does not rule the world.

LauraLyn

The USADA’s charges against Lance Armstrong and his gang of LiveStrongs is now beginning to show the real depth of corruption, racketeering, and drug dealing that this self-proclaimed American hero brought to sport. All the payments and conspiring between Armstrong and the UCI may never reach the full light of day. However, it is clear now that this criminal behavior is not something of the past.

Lance Armstrong filed letters in Federal court from the UCI president, Pat McQuaid. The World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) Director General David Howman has since instructed the UCI and its president to stop hindering the USADA investigation and to cooperate in providing the evidence it has on Armstrong and his co-conspirators.

The WADA President stated: â€œWe therefore urge you to reconsider your position and to provide all support to USADA in the conduct of this case, including all documents required by them.â€ WADA goes on to tell McQuaid and the UCI: â€œBy adopting its current position UCI is sadly destroying the credibility it has slowly been regaining in the past years in the fight against doping.â€

Pat McQuaid received a lifetime ban from the International Olympic Committee as an athlete for breaking the rules and lying about it and trying to cover it up. The UCI has received checks from Armstrong in the past. The UCI letters and press statement use the same language and arguments as Armstrong’s Washington PR and lobby team.

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